Jeremy Clarkson sends a message to A-level students as he invites them for a drink (…but might land himself in trouble with the council)
Jeremy Clarkson has invited A-level students who didn't get the results they were hoping for to come to his new pub for a drink.
The presenter and Clarkson's Farm star used his annual results day tweet, where he messages about finding success despite his poor results, to advertise his pub which will open next weekend.
He revealed earlier this year he paid 'less than £1 million' for The Windmill, which is set in five acres of countryside near Burford in Oxfordshire.
But local councillor Liam Walker has warned that the pub's current car park will not be big enough to accommodate the thousands of potential visitors, which could cause chaos if they were to park on the verges of nearby fields.
Clarkson, 64, has faced pushback over the years from locals in the West Oxfordshire area when he has tried to expand his Diddly Squat farm project, with the rows featuring extensively in his hit Amazon series Clarkson's Farm.
Jeremy Clarkson has invited A-level students to check out the upcoming opening of his new pub
He revealed earlier this year he paid 'less than £1 million' for The Windmill (pictured), which is set in five acres of countryside near Burford in Oxfordshire
Jeremy Clarkson, 64, shared a video of himself pouring pints in July which was the first glimpse inside his new Cotswolds pub
The upcoming boozer is set in five acres of countryside with 'staggering views' across the Windrush Valley, is just 10 miles from the TV star's famous Diddly Squat Farm base.
It's understood the ex-Top Gear host's new venture will feature in the next series of Clarkson's Farm on Amazon's Prime Video.
Clarkson has been working flat out in recent weeks to get the Cotswolds pub up and running - and filming much of the process.
Frequently accompanied by his partner Lisa Hogan, he has been trailed by scores of cast and crew from the upcoming fourth series.
But the new pub could already be causing Clarkson to get into trouble with the council.
In a post on Facebook earlier this week, Mr Walker said he had sat in a meeting with the local highway team to discuss the opening of the new pub.
He said: 'Many will know I've been hugely supportive of Jeremy's work not just for the farming community but for his boost to the local economy in West Oxfordshire.
The presenter and Clarkson's Farm star used his annual results day tweet yesterday, where he messages about finding success despite his poor results, to advertise his new pub
The Windmill is set in five acres of Cotswold countryside with stunning views across the Windrush Valley - and just ten miles from his Diddy Squad Farm
Clarkson recently purchased the Windmill pub and has been working to renovate the property
Oxfordshire County Council has previously spoken out against Clarkson's Diddly Squat Farm Shop causing parking chaos
In the past people have taken to parking on the verges outside Diddly Squat Farm Shop due to a lack in parking. Pictured on March 17, 2023
A sign stating the car park is full on March 17, 2023. Clarkson has previously tried to expand the car park but has been refused permission
Neighbours have complained about traffic chaos caused by the shop's popularity in the past. Pictured taken on December 2021
Pictures from July show vehicles left dumped at the side of the road, with the site's car parks having overflowed
In July visitors to the Farm Shop parked their cars at the side of the road before queuing up for hours to get their hands on some coveted 'cow juice' or 'bee juice'
A police van had to be parked up outside the idyllic Cotswolds farm earlier this year amid some vehicles being told they wouldn't be able to enter an already packed car park
'This latest venture will no doubt be a huge success however I feel the county council needs to ensure lessons have been learnt from the farm shop particularly around the problematic verge parking.'
Mr Walker said he had inquired about getting double yellow lines brought in surrounding the pub and for the lay-by across the road to be closed to prevent cars obstructing the area, but that there seemed to be a 'reluctance' to bring these measures in.
He added that he knew Clarkson's team were also exploring the option of using a nearby field as another car park, but this has yet to be confirmed.
'We know fans from across the country are going to flock to his pub and I feel we have a responsibility to try and make the roads nearby safe for visitors and those passing by', he added.
Clarkson hopes to be able to avoid more run-ins with the council and opened the pub for a trial run in order to show the Euros final which saw England take on Spain.
The former Top Gear host standing outside his Diddly Squat Farm Shop near Chadlington, Oxfordshire
Jeremy Clarkson and his Clarkson's Farm co-star Kaleb Cooper enjoy drinks at Clarkson's Hawkstone Brewery in 2022
Stars of the show: (From left to right) Gerald Cooper, Charlie Ireland, Lisa Hogan, Kaleb Cooper and Jeremy Clarkson
A video showed him pouring pints of his famous Hawkstone Lager, which is made using barely grown on his Diddly Squat farm, from behind the bar as the crowd enjoyed the football.
Despite early challenges finding staff and teething problems with a 'loft full of dead rats' and 'illegal' lavatories, Clarkson remains committed to getting the place back up and running promptly - writing earlier this month that he still has a wedding reception to host 'in a couple of weeks' time'.
Clarkson has said he envisions a 'fun' and homely pub with bar billiards, darts and a garden - and a place he can go on a Sunday with his granddaughter for gammon, egg and chips.
Clarkson has previously found himself embroiled in a row over his plans to allow greater visitor access to his farm and its attached shop.
The popularity of his Amazon show, which documents the workings of his Diddly Squat farm, a 1,000-acre operation in the Cotswolds, sparked interest from tourists in seeking out the broadcaster's produce, with queues for the shop reportedly a regular occurrence.
Clarkson was pictured on a digger earlier this month as he worked to open his Cotswolds pub
Clarkson's partner Lisa Hogan was pictured earlier this month supervising all aspects of the work
Clarkson could be seen pontificating to Gerald with his arms flailing on the decking of the pub
Clarkson's partner Lisa showed a willingness to get her hands dirty by moving furniture inside
The entire process was filmed by an Amazon TV crew for the next series of the hit show
The TV star wanted to extend the car park on his Oxfordshire farm plot to accommodate 70 vehicles, but the proposals were originally opposed by West Oxfordshire District Council.
He also found himself in hot water with his local authority over a restaurant on his farm, with the council shutting it down after it was allegedly opened without planning permission.
Clarkson has said he plans to sell his own Hawkstone lager as well as produce reared on his nearby Diddly Squat Farm at the pub.
The recent row between Clarkson and locals over parking is just the latest of a long series of disputes he has had since he began farming in the area, with his farm shop especially causing disapproval.
Since opening in 2020 the farm shop has been selling all manner of produce, including candles, mini eggs, lager, gin, jam, rapeseed oil, cheese and 'cow juice'.
The shop has become a major tourist attraction in its own right, with fans coming from across the country and beyond to visit.
But the lack of adequate parking has meant that visitors were often forced to park on adjacent fields and the side of the road, disturbing land and sparking heated disapproval from villagers.
Clarkson's long-standing tweets have lightened a tense day for many students in recent years
Clarkson has already had six planning disputes with his local council over his various proposals to expand the Diddly Squat site but has faced repeated opposition.
He has had rejections to plant a row of trees around a temporary car park, open a restaurant, build a pickle ball court and even permission to lay out a simple farm track to a converted barn.
Faced with a barrage of complaints from fans on social media after the rejections were aired on TV, West Oxfordshire District Council were forced to deny they had a 'personal vendetta' against the celebrity farmer.
In January Clarkson launched another planning battle after submitting new proposals for an 'urgent' storage barn.
He filed fresh plans to build a huge 118ft long by 59ft wide barn to store grain at the site and said it was due to the 'urgent need for the additional storage' which was effecting the price of his produce.
It will be the eleventh application the Grand Tour host has lodged with West Oxfordshire District Council since he bought the 1,000-acre farm in 2008.
Jeremy Clarkson arrives at a town hall meeting in Oxfordshire called to discuss his farm shop, September 9 2021
During Clarkson's Farm, the former Top Gear presenter made an appeal to council officials for planning permission for his various proposals in 2021
Clarkson was even forced to close his restaurant temporarily in January last year after being served with an enforcement notice from the local council - with residents claiming the establishment was causing heavy traffic.
In 2023 the TV personality's farm has already amassed £1.34 million in assets and 17 employees, while in 2021 the business had just £44,000 in assets and six employees.
It is unknown how many of the students invited by Clarkson to come to the pub will take up his offer.
The post on Thursday has 2.9m views on Twitter/X, in which he wrote: 'Don't worry if your A level results aren't what you were hoping for.
'I got a C and two Us, and here I am, 46 years later, with my own pub. It opens next weekend if you fancy dropping in.'
Clarkson's long-standing tweets have lightened a tense day for many students in recent years.
In 2021, he told his followers he has 'loads of friends' despite achieving poor A-Level results in his own exams.
And last year the Diddly Squat farmer wrote: 'It's not the end of the world if your A-Level results aren't what you'd hoped for. I got a C and two Us and here I am today with my own brewery.'
The ex-Top Gear star last year reminded fans he owns his own brewery
In previous years, Clarkson's annual sharing of his A Level results have always been coupled with a boast of his success
Hana Sarwar receives her A level results - 2 A stars and an A - at King Edward VII High School for Girls, an independent school in Edgbaston, Birmingham
Carys Bonell and Ava Doherty Celebrate at the Harris Westminster Sixth Form after opening their results
The Top Gear presenter's most popular variation came in 2016, when he revealed his results and added: 'I'm currently on a superyacht in the Med.'
Other tweets have boasted of having a Bentley and renting a grand chateau in France for the summer.
Social media users last night speculated on what his message might be, with one fan writing: 'Happy Jeremy Clarkson #ALevelResults tweet Eve everyone. I hope Father Clarkson brings you exactly what we expect.'
Meanwhile the Education Secretary was also keen to reassure students early yesterday morning.
Ms Phillipson said there are 'plenty of opportunities' for A-level students who fall short on results day.
She told Sky News: 'To our young people receiving their results, there are lots of great options out there in terms of what you can go on to do next.
'For those young people who get what they need and move on to their destination of choice, that's brilliant.
'For those who perhaps fall slightly short, there are lots of options out there. There are lots of people that can be there to provide advice and support, whether that's the school or college, UCAS through clearing, or the National Career Service.
'So I want to wish them all the very best, but to reassure them that there are plenty of opportunities that are there.'
